Shafts for vehicles.



No. 896,992. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

F. s. HOWELLS. SHAFTS FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907.

'stantially the same in weight.

FRANK S. HOWELLS, OF PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK.

SHAFTS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed May 3, 1907. Serial No. 371,656.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. HOWELLS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in Port Washington, Nassau county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shafts forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, broadly speaking, to a new and improved shaft forvehicles, such as carriages, wagons, buggies, etc. but it may also beemployed for whifiietrees, poles and other parts of a vehicle where theparticular strains to which such art is subjected are of such a natureas wi enable and recommend the employment of my said invention.

My invention consists essentially of a metallic strand, core or skeletonwhich is so located and arranged as to assume the main tensional strainwhen the shafts are in use, and in combination with this I form acompleting, enveloping body or filler, which surrounds the metallic partand builds it out to the proper proportions and shape, as will beexplamed. The enveloping body or filler is composed preferably of papiermach, but I may use wood pulp or other suitable substance; a fibrousmaterial is best however.

The metallic strand, core or skeleton is made referably of steel, but Ido not limit ,Inyse to steel, but I prefer to employ this metal or somemetal which has a certain amount of spring to it; a metal which takes aset upon being bent would be undesirable. It must also be borne in mindthat the shafts which I propose constructing out of the combination ofthe above'materials must conform, approximately at least, in size, shapeand appearance to the ordinary hickory shafts now in use; they must alsobe sub- It is therefore important that the metallic part of the shaft belimited to a certain extent in size in cross-section so as to keep downthe weight, but it is of equal importance that the metallic part be ofsufficient dimensions to afford the re uisite strength.

11 carrying my invention into effect I preferably employ a strand largerin one direction than the other in cross section, so as to form a piecein the nature of a ribbon, and I preferably give said strand a twist, orsemicoil, which lends stiffness to the ultimate structure and servesbetter as a foundation to support and retain the superimposed body, ormass, of papier mach. In carrying my invention into effect, also, I havein view the fact that the apier mach or other material employed sha 1not only serve as a means for filling out, or rounding out, the shaft,but it must also serve as a means for stiffening the metallic centralpart and lend ing tensile strength to the structure. It must be of sucha nature, also, so that the entire weight of my improved shaft shall not,be more than the weight of a wooden shaft of the'same size.

For the purpose of more particularly describing my invention I willrefer to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,and in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the metallicpart, or skeleton; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of themetallic part, skeleton or strand. In this figure also I show the edgesof the strand turned over and lying at an angle relatively to the mainbody of the strand; the object of this is to provide means for lockingthe superimposed mass more securely on the strand; Fig. 3 shows amodification of this means of locking; here instead of the turned overedges, I show perforations in the body of the strands which serve a likepur ose to the turned over edges, as will be exp ained; Fig. 4 is aperspective view of a completed pair of shafts, the metallic skeletonbeing shown in dotted lines. In the completed and finished shafts theskeleton is of course invisible in this form the shafts and cross pieceare made integral. Fig. 5 shows my invention ap lied to a whiffletree;Fig. 6 is a longitudina section, also partly in elevation, to a largerscale, of a portion of the shaft made according to my present invention;Fig. 7 is a cross section of the same on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8is a cross section and perspective view showing a modification of myinvention.

In these drawings, A represents a metallic strand which constitutes theskeleton of my im roved shafts and it is preferably formed, asereinbefore stated, of a fair grade of steel whereby in use it willendure the tensional strain required of it and also provide suflicientspring or resiliency, qualities which obtain in hickory wood and whichit is the object of my invention to simulate.

Around the strand A I place the completing and enveloping body B. Thisenveloping body is formed, as hereinbefore stated, of papier mach orother suitable material, such as wood pulp, or strips of wood, or othermaterial. It is intended to fit snugly over and around the centrallyarranged strand and suitable pressure is employed to produce an intimateand enduring bond between the two materials. That is to say, it is theintent and purpose of my invention to so place and secure the envelopingand completing material upon the central metallic strand, or skeleton,that at all times and occasions during practical usage of the completedshafts,

the bond and union between the two elements will be maintained in itsoriginal integrity, and that there will be no separation of one from theother and that each will cooperate with the other to produce an enduringstructure subject, of course, to the usual wear and tear. In order toaccomplish this result, I may, if necessary or desirable, employhydraulic pressure to effect the desired end; other pressure may,however, be used.

For the better retention of the completing and enveloping body upon thecentral strand, core or skeleton, I provide turned-over edges 0 upon thesaid strand, which act as a look upon the surrounding body B. That is tosay, the turned-over edges C by reason of their extension reach into themass of the surrounding body B and, by presenting an angle, perform theoffice of an anchor as the material is being pressed into position. Itforms a pocket for the surrounding mass B and acts, as aforesaid, as alock. I also show perforations D in the strand, through which thematerial B can be forced when under pressure. These perforations act asadditional or substitute means for locking the surrounding body B in thestrand, core or skeleton A: either one or the other form of lockingdevices may be employed, either singly or together.

When the material B has been firmly secured upon the strand or skeletonA, I provide an outer finish E, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This finishmay be of paint or varnish other substances which can be similarlyapplied will answer the purpose however.

The material employed by me in the surrounding body B is, ashereinbefore stated, preferably papier mach or wood pulp, or somesubstance of that nature. In other words, I employ a materialessentially fibrous in its nature and one which will lend itself to theconditions imposed and will be cap able of receiving the pressure and ofmaintaining the conformation of the finished structure. By using afibrous material tensile strength and continuity is secured.

At F I show a cross piece connecting the two sides of the shaft. Thiscross piece is formed like the shafts themselves of a centrally locatedand longitudinally arranged strand, core or skeleton around which thefibrous material is placed, it being subjected to the same pressure asthe shaft proper. In Fig. 1 I show the cross piece and the shafts madeof three separate parts joined together by pins and in Fig. 4 I showthem formed of a single piece of metal.

When the two side pieces and the cross piece are secured together,either as shown in Fig. 1 by pins G, or by being welded together, orotherwise formed integrally, that is to say, of one piece as shown inFig. 4, I place a surrounding body or mass B thereon, the result beingthe finished article, as shown in said Fig. 4, of the pair of shafts andthe cross piece formed preferably of a single piece and filled in.

It is the object and intention of my invention to dispose of the shaftsas shown in Fig. 4, that is to say, the parts consisting of the twoshafts and the cross piece being assembled and finished, as shown, sothat they reach the consumer as a finished article.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a whiifletree made in a similar manner and atFig. 8 I show a strand with dove-tailed portions extending throughoutits length.

In carrying my invention into effect also I may employ the terminals ofthe metallic strand or skeleton by extending them beyond the surroundingfibrous mass and utilizing them as metallic finishing pieces for theparts; to illustrateI show in Fig. 1 terminals J which may act as partof the thill coupling, and in Fig; 5 I show the metallic strands 7invention into effect I so impress the material B upon the strand orcore A that in the act of joining these two materials the surroundingmaterial isbrought into a more com(p act form than before the pressureis applie the result being a hard and stiffened structure; at the sametime owing to the fact that the strand is made of twisted steel thereremains in the completed structure a certain amount of elasticity.

It will be seen that the bent or twisted metallic core presents aconstantly varying plane in cross section, thereby giving great strengthas well as the requisite elasticity.

Where in the claims I speak of a pair of shafts I include the two shaftsproper and the piece which serves to connect them and which also forms asupport for the whiffletree.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination in a pair of shafts for vehicles, of a metallic coreor strand extending centrally through said shafts and cross piece, withan enveloping and completing body of fibrous material.

2. A shaft for vehicles having a twisted metallic strand extendinglongitudinally thereof the same being filled, or rounded out, by papiermach, or equivalent material.

3. A shaft for vehicles. having a twisted metallic strand acting as acore, or skeleton, filled, or rounded out, by papier mach, or othersuitable material, to simulate the appearance of the ordinary shaft, andmeans for locking the papier mach, or other mate- 10 rial employed, uponthe said strand.

4. In a shaft for vehicles, a centrally located metallic strand, astiffening and completing body surrounding same,'and means consistingofperforations in-the strand for 15 looking the completing body.

5. A pair of shafts for vehicles having a centrally located strand, coreor skeleton extending through the shafts proper as well as through thecross piece which connects them, the said strand core or skeleton beingformed integrally in combination with an enveloping and completing body.

6. A pair of shafts for vehicles having an integrally formed and twistedstrand extending centrally through the two shafts and the connectingpiece, in combination with an enveloping and completing body.

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of January, 1907.

FRANK S. HOWELLS.

Signed in the presence of. HERBERT KNIGHT,

M. A. BARRETT.

